14 May 2019

ACC rejections of survivors shows flawed system - lawyer

From Morning Report, 8:14 am on 14 May 2019

A lawyer specialising in ACC says the fact Christchurch mosque shooting survivors have been declined support shows how flawed the system is. By the end of April, eighty-five people had made claims for mental injuries related to the massacre. Thirty-five have been declined and decisions are pending on another 25.

Yama Nabi arrived for prayer at the Al Noor mosque on the March 15, moments after a gunman shot 44 people dead and set off for the nearby Linwood mosque where he killed a further seven. As he approached Mr Nabi saw dead bodies, people nursing bullet wounds, and blood flowing from the mosque.

Inside, his father had been shot dead. Traumatised - he put in a claim for mental injury to ACC - but they declined it.

As the law stands, ACC can only cover a mental injury if it is the result of a physical injury, is sustained at work or is the result of sexual abuse.

Lawyer and ACC expert Warren Forster talks to Susie Ferguson.